Education: A Vital Issue in Election 2000

Public much more positive about education in their local community than about education nationally

by Alec Gallup

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

I. Importance of Education

KEY POINT:The public ranks education as one of the
most important issues in this year's presidential campaign, with
91% saying it is "very" or "extremely" important.The
educational issue may be based on perceptions of problems as much
as it is on reality. Parents of school-aged children are quite
satisfied with the quality of education their children receive, but
much less so with the educational system in general in the country.
Similarly, Americans give higher grades to the schools in their
local community than they do to schools nationally.

Gallup polls conducted over the past year generally show that
Americans believe education to be one of the most important issues
to be discussed in this year's presidential election -- more
important than even the economy and health care. In fact, half of
the public believe education is an "extremely important" issue, a
significantly greater percentage than for any other issue
mentioned.

At the same time, education does not stand out above all other
issues in terms of its salience to voters this year. In the
public's response to open-ended questions, education does not
dominate its concerns, but rather is at the top of a widely
disparate list of concerns. For example, in response to a question
asked in July, 12% of Americans said that education was the single
most important issue in influencing their vote for president. This
ranked it at the top of all issues, along with the economy,
followed by health care (9%) and Social Security (8%). Similarly,
Americans were slightly more likely to mention education (12%) than
any other topic when they were asked in another July survey to name
the single issue they thought it would be most important for the
new president to address when he takes office next January.

"Now I am going to read a list of some of the issues that
will probably be discussed in this year's presidential election
campaigns. As I read each one, please tell me how important the
candidates' positions on that issue will be in influencing your
vote for president -- extremely important, very important, somewhat
important, or not important." [RANDOM ORDER]

August 4-5, 2000

Extremely
important

Very
important

Extremely/very important

%

%

%

Education

50

41

91

The economy

41

44

85

Health care

44

40

84

Social Security

43

40

83

Taxes

40

42

82

Handling the budget surplus

39

41

80

Medicare

37

39

76

National defense

34

39

73

"And of all the issues I have just read, which is the single
most important in influencing your vote for president?"

July 25-26, 2000

The economy

12%

Education

12

Health care

9

Social Security

8

Taxes

6

The gun issue

6

Abortion

6

National defense

5

Medicare

4

The environment

4

Handling the budget surplus

3

Creating opportunities for better-paying jobs

3

Foreign affairs

2

Foreign trade

*

None

2

OTHER (vol.)

15

No opinion

3

(vol.) Volunteered response
* Less than 0.5%

"Regardless of who wins the election, what single issue or
challenge are you most interested in having the next president
address when he takes office next January?"

July 6-9, 2000

Education

12%

Social Security

9

Health care/health care costs/health care reform

9

Taxes

6

The economy

5

Abortion

4

Gun control

4

Care for the elderly

4

Medicare

3

Poverty/the poor/homelessness

2

Defense/national defense

2

Foreign policy

2

Cost of prescription drugs

2

Gas prices

2

Federal deficit

2

Welfare/welfare reform

2

The American public generally gives higher grades to the state
of education in their local communities than they do to the
education system in general across the country. Similarly, parents
give higher grades to the education their children receive than
they do to the educational system nationally. This type of
local-versus-national disparity is often noted in survey research,
and also pertains to such issues as health care and crime.

A Gallup survey conducted for the international educational
associationPhi Delta Kappahas shown for years that the
grades Americans give to schools in their local communities are
much higher than grades they give to schools nationally.
Forty-seven percent of national adults give the schools in their
communities a grade of A or B, while only 20% give an A or B grade
to schools across the country.

Additionally, a Gallup poll conducted August 24-27 of this year
shows that 61% of the public is either "somewhat dissatisfied" or
"completely dissatisfied" with the quality of education in this
country, while 36% are "completely satisfied" or "somewhat
satisfied." Dissatisfaction appears to be growing, as opinion was
more evenly divided on the quality of education in this country in
1999, when 47% were satisfied and 51% were dissatisfied.

Opinion is dramatically different, however, on the quality of
education one's own children receive. In the same poll, 78% of
parents of school-aged children say they are either completely
satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the quality of education their
(oldest) child is receiving, while only 18% express any sort of
dissatisfaction. In contrast to the education numbers for the
country as a whole, parents' satisfaction with their children's
schooling has remained relatively stable during the past year.

"Students are often given the grades A, B, C, D, and FAIL to
denote the quality of their work. Suppose the public schools
themselves, in this community, were graded in the same way. What
grade would you give the public schools here -- A, B, C, D, or
FAIL?"(Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa Study)

Nationaltotals

No childrenin
school

Public schoolparents

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

A & B

47

49

44

47

56

56

A

11

11

10

10

14

15

B

36

38

34

37

42

41

C

35

31

35

31

33

31

D

8

9

8

10

6

8

FAIL

3

5

3

4

3

4

Don't know

7

6

10

8

2

1

"How about the public schools in the nation as a whole? What
grade would you give the public schools nationally -- A, B, C, D,
or FAIL?"(Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa study)

Nationaltotals

No childrenin
school

Public schoolparents

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

A & B

20

24

19

26

22

21

A

2

2

2

1

2

3

B

18

22

17

25

20

18

C

47

46

47

43

47

50

D

14

16

14

16

12

17

FAIL

5

4

6

4

4

5

Don't know

14

10

14

11

15

7

"Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of education
students receive in grades kindergarten through grade twelve in the
U.S. today -- would you say completely satisfied, somewhat
satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely
dissatisfied?"

Completely satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Somewhat dissatisfied

Completely dissatisfied

No
opinion

2000 Aug 24-27

7%

29

40

21

3

1999 Aug 24-26

8%

39

38

13

2

II. What Does the Public Want Done to Improve
Education?

A. Alternatives to the Current Public School System

Most Americans state that they support reforms to the existing
public school system rather than alternatives to the existing
system. When given the choice between reforming the existing public
school system or finding an alternative system as a way of
improving public education, Americans in the current education
survey -- conducted annually by Gallup for Phi Delta Kappa -- opt
for reforming the existing system by almost a two-to-one margin,
59% to 34%. Similarly, when asked which they would prefer -- to
improve the existing public schools or to provide vouchers to pay
for private and church-related schools, Americans choose the former
option by 75% to 22%.

While Americans are opposed to replacing the existing public
school system, they are receptive, by varying degrees, to several
non-public-school alternatives, including charter schools, home
schools, and attendance at private and church-related schools by
means of government vouchers for paying tuition.

More than seven in ten Americans (74%), however, believe that
such publicly funded non-public schools should be required to take
students from a wider range of backgrounds and academic ability
levels than is now generally the case. Americans also believe that
these schools should also be accountable to the state in the way
public schools are accountable (76% to 21%).

In the current Gallup/Phi Delta Kappasurvey, among the 49% of
Americans who know what such schools are, about seven in ten favor
the idea of charter schools. At the same time, the public believes
that charter schools, specifically, should be accountable to the
state in the same way the regular public schools are
accountable.

By a margin of 57% to 36%, Americans believe that home schools
are a bad thing for the nation, although the percentage saying "a
bad thing" has declined considerably since the first measurement in
1985, when the figure was 79%. At the same time, nine in ten
Americans (88%) feel that home schools should be required to
maintain the same level of educational quality as the regular
public schools do. Virtually the same percentage, 92%, would
require home-schooled children to take all the state and national
assessment tests public school students are required to take each
year.

"In order to improve public education in America, some
people think the focus should be on reforming the existing public
school system. Others believe the focus should be on finding an
alternative to the existing public school system. Which approach do
you think is preferable -- reforming the existing public school
system or finding an alternative to the existing public school
system?"

Nationaltotals

No childrenin school

Public schoolparents

'00%

'99%

'97%

'00%

'99%

'97%

'00%

'99%

'97%

Reforming existing system

59

71

71

59

73

70

60

68

72

Finding alternative system

34

27

23

34

24

23

34

30

24

Don't know

7

2

6

7

3

7

6

2

4

"Which one of these two plans would you prefer -- improving and
strengthening the existing public schools or providing vouchers for
parents to use in selecting and paying for private and/or
church-related schools?"

Nationaltotals

No childrenin school

Public schoolparents

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

Improving existing public schools

75

70

74

72

78

68

Providing vouchers

22

28

21

26

21

30

Neither

*

1

*

1

*

1

Don't know/refused

3

1

5

1

1

1

*Less than one-half of 1%.

"Have you heard or read about so-called charter schools?"

NationalTotals%

No Childrenin School%

Public SchoolParents%

Yes

49

49

44

No

50

49

55

Don't know

1

2

1

"As you may know, charter schools operate under a charter or
contract that frees them from many of the state regulations imposed
on public schools and permits them to operate independently. Do you
favor or oppose the idea of charter schools?"

Nationaltotals%

No childrenin school%

Public schoolparents%

Favor

42

42

40

Oppose

47

47

47

Don't know

11

11

13

B. Vouchers

Gallup and Phi Delta Kappa have been asking the public about
vouchers, an idea that originated in Europe, since 1970. To
investigate this complex and controversial subject, eight
questions, each containing slightly different wording, have been
used. All of the questions have shown increasing support for
vouchers as the public gradually became more accustomed to the
idea.

Today, support for vouchers ranges from 41% to 52% in favor,
depending on whether the question mentions vouchers that pay part
of the tuition, allorpart, orallof the tuition.
Based on the findings, the public appears to be more receptive to
the idea of partial payment than to the other options.

Gallup has also investigated the public’s support for
vouchers that would provide parents with tax credits rather than
direct tuition payments. The findings reveal that the public is
more supportive of vouchers based on tax credits than of those that
pay tuition directly. Again, the same situation occurs as is true
for tuition payments: Americans supportpartialtax credits
by a larger majority, 65% to 34%, than they do total tax credits,
57% to 41%.

"Which one of these two plans would you prefer -- improving
and strengthening the existing public schools or providing vouchers
for parents to use in selecting and paying for private and/or
church-related schools?"

Nationaltotals

No childrenin school

Public schoolparents

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

'00%

'99%

Improving existing public schools

75

70

74

72

78

68

Providing vouchers

22

28

21

26

21

30

Neither

*

1

*

1

*

1

Don't know/refused

3

1

5

1

1

1

*Less than one-half of 1%

"A proposal has been made that would allow parents to send their
school-aged children to any public, private, or church-related
school they choose. For those parents choosing non-public schools,
the government would pay all or part of the tuition. Would you
favor or oppose this proposal in your state?"

Nationaltotals

No childrenin school

Public schoolparents

'00%

'99%

'98%

'97%

'96%

'00%

'99%

'98%

'97%

'96%

'00%

'99%

'98%

'97%

'96%

Favor

45

51

51

49

43

43

45

48

46

38

47

60

56

55

49

Oppose

52

47

45

48

54

54

52

48

51

59

51

38

40

43

49

Don't
know

3

2

4

3

3

3

3

4

3

3

2

2

4

2

2

C. Testing

For several decades in the Gallup/Phi Delta Kappa surveys, the
public has, by percentages of 70% and more, backed the use of
standardized national achievement testing for measuring both
student academic progress and for grade promotion including high
school graduation.

Moreover, the public by 71% to 25% would favor the federal
government administering a voluntary national program that would
routinely test fourth and eighth graders to measure the performance
of the nation’s public schools.

At the same time, Americans appear to have some reservations
about achievement testing, particularly about the amount of testing
in their local schools.

For example, the public is divided on whether, on an overall
basis, there is too much or too little achievement testing in the
local schools. Forty-three percent say there is about the right
amount and the remainder is roughly split between those who think
there is too much and those who feel there is too little
testing.

Americans, by 68% to 26%, also believe that examples of public
school students’ work offer a better way to measure their
academic achievement than do their scores on standardized local and
state achievement tests.

"Now, here are some questions about testing. In your opinion, is
there too much emphasis on achievement testing in the public
schools in your community, not enough emphasis on testing, or about
the right amount?"

Nationaltotals

No childrenin school

Public schoolparents

'00%

'97%

'00%

'97%

'00%

'97%

Too much emphasis

30

20

28

20

34

19

Not enough emphasis

23

28

26

28

19

26

About the right amount

43

48

41

46

46

54

Don't know

4

4

5

6

1

1

"In your opinion, should the primary use of tests be to
determine how much students have learned or to determine the kind
of instruction they need in the future?"

Nationaltotals%

No childrenin school%

Public schoolparents%

Determine how much students have learned

30

32

27

Determine the kind of instruction needed

65

63

69

Don't know

5

5

4

"In your opinion, which is the best way to measure student
academic achievement -- by means of test scores or by classroom
work and homework?"

Nationaltotals%

No childrenin school%

Public schoolparents%

Test scores

26

28

23

Classroom work and homework

68

66

71

Don't know

6

6

6

D. Teachers

The following finding reveals the special importance of teachers
in the school reform movement: When Americans are asked which one
of four possibilities offers the most promise for improving the
public schools in their communities, more than half (52%) answer "a
qualified, competent teacher in every classroom." The next most
frequently mentioned response, with only 19%, is "a free choice for
parents among a number of private, church-related, and public
schools," followed closely by "rigorous academic standards," with
17%.

As a way to attract and retain good teachers, the public favors
increased pay for all teachers, by a margin of 62% to 37%, while as
many as nine in ten are in favor of increased pay for teachers who
demonstrate high performance.

As regards demonstrated performance, moreover, more than eight
in ten (85%) feel that it is either very or fairly important that
increased teacher pay should be tied to the scores their students
receive on standardized achievement tests.

The public is divided as to whether teacher unionization has
helped, hurt, or made no difference as regards the quality of
education in the nation. About a quarter (27%) say it has helped,
another quarter (26%) say it has hurt, and the remaining 47% say it
has made no difference or they have no opinion. The percentage who
feel unionization has hurt educational quality, however, has
declined from 38% to the aforementioned 26% over the last 25
years.

"Of the following four possibilities, which one do you think
offers the most promise for improving the public schools in your
community: rigorous academic standards; a qualified, competent
teacher in every classroom; the elimination of social promotion
(that is, moving students from grade to grade to keep them in their
own age group); or free choice for parents among a number of
private, church-related, and public schools?"

Nationaltotals%

No childrenin school%

Public schoolparents%

A qualified, competent teacher in every classroom

52

49

59

Free choice for parents among a number of private,
church-related, and public schools

19

18

15

Rigorous academic standards

17

21

15

The elimination of social promotion

10

10

10

Don't know

2

2

1

E. Government Influence and Funding

By a margin of about two to one, Americans would like the
federal government to have less influence (61%) rather than more
(33%) in determining the education programs of the local public
schools. The current numbers are virtually the same as those
obtained in two of three previous surveys since 1986.

In a similar vein, in the current survey 49% say the federal
government has too much influence on the decisions that affect the
local public schools, compared to 16% who feel the feds have too
little influence, and 29% who say about the right amount.

In regards to determining how federal money should be
distributed to the states, seven in ten Americans (71%) think the
states should be given flexibility or leeway in how the money
should be spent, while 23% think the money should be specifically
designated for particular programs.

"Now, let's focus on the decisions made that affect the
public schools in your community. As I name a specific group or
individual, please tell me whether you think that group or
individual has too much, too little, or just about the right amount
of say in the decisions that affect the local public
schools."

Toomuch%

Toolittle%

About theright amount%

Don'tknow%

Federal government

49

16

29

6

State government

43

15

36

6

Local board of education

29

18

49

4

School superintendent

25

18

51

6

Local teacher union

21

32

35

12

Principals

14

31

51

4

Students

11

56

30

3

Parents

7

66

25

2

Teachers

7

57

33

3

"Thinking about the future, would you like to see the federal
government in Washington have more influence or less influence in
determining the educational programs of the local public
schools?"

'00%

'95%

'87%

'86%

More influence

33

28

37

26

Less influence

61

64

39

53

Same amount

*

5

14

12

Don't know

6

3

10

9

*Less than one-half of 1%

An April study also found that Americans, when asked
specifically what it is that the federal government can do, were
more likely to mention funding and money than any other specific
topic:

"What action by the federal government do you think would be
most effective in helping to improve public schools in the United
States today?" [Open-ended; Record up to three mentions]

April 7-9,2000

National adults

K-12 parents

Funding/more money for education (general)

30%

33%

Standards for teachers/teacher testing/improve quality of
teachers

13

11

Teacher pay/pay teachers more money

9

9

Operate at the state/local level

8

8

Less government involvement

7

7

Discipline

5

5

Class size/smaller classes

4

5

Curriculum/go back to teaching basics

4

4

Standards for students/testing students

4

4

Control violence/make schools safer

3

4

Bring prayer back in schools

3

3

Hire more teachers

2

3

Provide better school supplies/materials/technology

2

4

School buildings/build more schools

2

1

Allow vouchers

2

3

Monitor schools more closely/be more involved

2

3

Parental involvement

1

2

Equal funding across the board

1

2

More well-rounded curriculum

1

2

More activities/programs for kids

1

2

Need to be regulated/standardized

1

1

Tax cuts/advantages

1

1

More involved with students

*

1

Drug education/awareness

*

1

School choice

*

*

Teacher incentives

*

1

Better schools (general)

*

*

Not allowing vouchers

*

*

Longer school sessions

*

--

Parental guidance/role models

*

*

Other

10

10

Nothing

4

1

No opinion

12

9

(vol.) Volunteered response
* Less than 0.5%

"What do you think are the biggest problems with which
the public schools of your community must deal?"

Recommended

Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of education students receive in kindergarten through grade twelve in the U.S. today -- would you say you are completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely dissatisfied? Now thinking about the school your oldest child attends, do you think there is too much emphasis, the right amount, or too little emphasis on [RANDOM ORDER -- Sports. Preparing for standardized tests. Reading and English. Art and music. Sciences. Physical education. Foreign languages. Health. Composition or writing. Math. History.]?